The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on all seven counts of terrorism offences preferred against him by the Federal Government.
The judge held that the evidence of the prosecution was uncontroverted, Kanu, having failed to open his defence.
The judge dismissed Kanu’s argument that the charges against him were invalid because they were based on repealed Terrorism Prevention Act 2013.
He said the defendant did not present any evidence in his rebuttal of the charge.
According to him, this court will rely on the uncontroverted evidence of the prosecution.
Justice Omotosho formulated four issues for determination in the his decision.
These include, “whether the defendant was denied his right to fair hearing, whether the claim of extra-ordinary rendition of the defendant Invalidate the case.
“Whether the provisions under which the defendant is being tried are repealed laws and whether the prosecution has been able to establish its case beyond reasonable doubt.”
The judge, who said any self-determination not done in accordance with the law of the country would be illegal, said Kanu was going about using terrorism as a weapon to terrorise the people.
He said it was unfortunate to note that the defendant, who called himself a freedom fighter had terrorised his own people, even those of Christian faith.
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“He is a terrorist and must be treated as such.
“The prosecution has been able to establish its case beyond reasonable doubt.
“Consequently, the defendant is hereby convicted in all the seven counts as charged,” the judge said.
Earlier, Justice Omotosho ordered the Department of State Service, DSS, operatives to remove Kanu from the courtroom over his unruly behavior. He gave the order following Kanu’s insistence that the judgment, scheduled for delivery, would not proceed.
Kanu, the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, stood his ground and refused to move out of the courtroom despite the pleadings by the DSS officials for the defendant to listen to the court order.
Justice Omotosho then stood down the matter and directed the security officers to take him out of the courtroom.
Crediblenewsng.com
